- Cowboys have been scored on by a Right side CTW in 4 out of 6 games so far
- They have also conceded tries to opposition halves in as many games
- Cowboys Left side CTW has scored every week so far
- Cowboys Right side CTW has scored for the last three weeks in a row
- Cowboys have scored 6 tries for the last three games straight
- Cowboys CTWs have not scored less than two tries in every game so far
- Manly have been scored on by a Right side CTW in 4 out of 5 games so far
- 7 players have recorded a double against Manly in Five games so far
- Turbo has scored every game so far
- Manly’s Right side CTW has scored Five tries in the last two games
- Manly’s Right side Forwards (10 or 11) have scored in all but one game so far
- Manly have scored the first try in all but one game so far
Analysis:
Right, stay with me here because this is fucked.
To the untrained eye, it would seem as though Manly’s defence against right side attackers is completely rooted; There is a 3-9 disparity with tries scored on their left vs right, and they have given up four sets of doubles to right side CTWs, all signs point to Chester and Burns wreaking havoc up Manly’s conservative arm, yeah? Well here’s where it gets fishier than a Japanese pizza.
In their first three games, the combination of Jason Saab and Tolu Koula were utterly fucked on for 8 tries from their opposition wings, while Reuben Garrick and Lehi Hopoate let in just 2. That seems like a massive effort for the latter, but when you look a bit closer at who they have been up against, it starts to look suss. Basically everyone they have played so far has had a completely shithouse left side attack, such as the likes of the Raiders, Knights, Dolphins and Dragons, and even still, two of those teams managed to get at least one through Manly’s left side. This makes me think that they aren’t as tucked up against left side CTWs as it appears on paper.
To make things even more confusing, since Kieran Foran has taken over the coaching duties, it appears he has swapped Hopoate and Saab to their opposite sides of the field, and in that time, the Sea Eagles have given up just one try to CTWs on either side of the field. One to the underwhelming left side of the Dolphins, and one to the Dragons right side turds (that isn’t to say the Dragons right side isn’t their best, they’re just both shit). In any case, we’re about to find out what’s doing there, because the Cowboys haven’t had a reason to give a fuck about anyone’s CTW defence yet and I can’t see them suddenly finding a conscience this week.
In other news, the Turbo train is rolling like Snowpiercer and we’re gonna ride it until the wheels fall off.
The Cowboys are laughingly bullshit against opposition halves so it’s worth a slap on Fogarty or Brooks.
And lastly, one thing I noticed about Manly – and this is going back to last season – is that they are particularly vulnerable to shifty little fast running hookers. Soni Luke is an enormous upgrade from current-form Reed Mahoney in that department, so if Jacob Liddle can slip one past Manly, why not Luke? Something to think about, cunts. Do your best, I believe in you.
Cowboys Try Scorers: Jaxon Purdue/Zac Laybutt, Braidon Burns/Tom Chester
Sea Eagles Try Scorers: Turbo, Reuben Garrick/Jason Saab, Haumole Olakau’atu
Degen Bets: Turbo/Olakau’atu FTS, Burns/Purdue 2+, Luke Brooks/Jamal Fogarty, Soni Luke, Scott Drinkwater
